Phillips Exeter Academy – from the student point of view

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Election Season

Coming to New Hampshire from Pennsylvania, I never thought I would experience culture shock.The states have similar climates and similar cultures.One thing that first shocked me prep fall, and continues to surprise me, is how intense election season is in New Hampshire.This past Tuesday, many states took to the polls to vote for various representatives and governors.While most Phillips Exeter Students can’t vote, those who can, do.Academy students are allowed to vote in New Hampshire elections.For the majority of disenfranchised students interested in politics, Exeter offers many clubs and opportunities: Democratic Club, Republican Club, and Exeter Political Review, among others.

One of our most active political clubs is Democratic Club, or Dem Club.Although Exeter remains apolitical, the school has many connections to politics.New Hampshire’s Governor Maggie Hassan is the wife of our principal.Many students chose to work with her campaign, and, in the process, are able to attend political events around New Hampshire.Although New Hampshire is a small state, politically, we are very influential in elections.As such, we attract many politicians.Through Dem Club, students had the opportunity to hear both the Clinton’s speak on separate occasions.Regardless of political affiliation, such opportunities are an amazing part of the Exeter experience.In a country where many youth are uninterested in politics, it’s great that here, many students want to learn about policy and make a difference.

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About Paige

My name is Paige. I’m a Four-Year Senior at Exeter. I’m a boarder from the City of Champions, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I was born into a family that cherishes their ancestry and how it can continue to impact you and strange and unexpected ways. I developed an immense appreciation for the connections between culture, language, and religion. In the way children often do, I set a goal: to learn German. I stuck with it, not knowing how that would lead me to attend an amazing language immersion camp in middle school, a camp I am still involved with to this day. I decided after that first summer I was interested in a boarding school. Some family friends said I should look into Exeter, for both its student body diversity and in its academic diversity. I applied and love the diversity of both classes and people here. Although I finished my German studies last Spring, I have taken up Russian. This summer, I had the chance to travel to St. Petersburg, Russia through Exeter and hope to pursue Russian in Exeter.
Hometown: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Class of 2015
Favorite Restaurant in Town: Green Bean
Favorite Assembly: Pep Assembly
Favorite D-Hall: Wetherell
Favorite D-Hall Food: Matzo Granola